In 1987, Usha Hargude wrote her standard XI exam and got married the following year. She became an Anganwadi worker putting her love for further studies on the backburner. A mother of three, Hargude's dream was met 29 years later when she enrolled as an external student for the higher secondary certificate (HSC, class XII) exam. She scored 55% in the exam.

“I always wanted to study .But with three children and a job, there was never much time left for anything else. Now my eldest daughter is married, my second daughter is an engineer and my son is in second year of the Bsc. Once they grew up, they had their own life and I was left with ample time. Hence, I thought about utilizing this time,“ said an elated Usha,
who is 45-years-old.

Hargude filled form number17 and sat for the exam as an external student in SP College.“My working hours for anganwadi is between 10am and 2pm and then I had a lot of free time.So I started studying and would take notes from the college. The principal of the college and their administration helped me a lot and even allowed me to sit for lectures. I could not go for classes because at my age, it wo
uld look odd. Hence, I started studying regularly for two hours in the evening and an hour in the morning,“ she said.

Hargude said she got support from her family members and also neighbours who thought it was a bold decision to go back to school. “When my children were young, I used to teach them. Now, they teach me. What more can a mother ask for,“ said Hargude, who plans to complete her BA.